BUFFALO – Right now, the Sabres’ roster is at the 23-man limit. Center Tyler Ennis and winger Ville Leino are set to return from injuries, so moves will have to be made before the Sabres host the Ottawa Senators on Saturday afternoon.
“We’re actually meeting this afternoon on it to figure it out,” interim Sabres coach Ron Rolston said this afternoon following practice inside the First Niagara Center. “But it will be solved by tomorrow.”
What might the Sabres do?
Would they send center Kevin Porter, who’s been playing almost 16 minutes a contest, back to Rochester? Would they waive a veteran?
Since winger Brian Flynn doesn’t need waivers, sending the rookie back to the AHL might be an easy way to create a roster spot.
“He could go down, for sure,” Rolston said.
But Flynn has two goals and three points in his last three games and takes a regular shift with Porter and Marcus Foligno. Can the Sabres really afford to send Flynn down?
Rolston and his staff are faced with some difficult decisions.
“No question, and that’s what we want here, is we want players to make our decisions difficult,” Rolston said. “We’re getting to that point where the decisions we make are going to be tough ones, especially for a guy like Flynny and other who are producing.”
If Flynn does get sent down, Rolston would tell him he had a “pretty good” first run in the NHL.
“I think he’s gotten better every game,” Rolston said. “He would understand, I think, the circumstances. But he’s played exceptionally well for us.”
